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Usefulness of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating solitary pulmonary nodules

Abstract

Evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) poses a challenge to radiologists. Chest computed tomography (CT) is considered the standard technique for assessing morphologic findings and intrathoracic spread of an SPN. Although the clinical role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for SPNs remains limited, considerable experience has been gained with MRI of thoracic diseases. Dynamic MRI and dynamic CT are useful for differentiating between malignant and benign SPNs (especially tuberculomas and hamartomas). Furthermore, dynamic MRI is useful for assessing tumor vascularity, interstitium, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression, and for predicting survival outcome among patients with peripheral pulmonary carcinoma. These advantages make dynamic MRI a promising method and a potential biomarker for characterizing tumor response to anti-angiogenic treatment as well as for predicting survival outcomes after treatment.

Author

Kiminori Fujimoto

Contact Details

Corresponding address:
Dr Kiminori Fujimoto, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Head of Diagnostic Thoracic Imaging,
Department of Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine and Center for Diagnostic Imaging,
Kurume University Hospital, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011 Japan

Reference

ICIS Cancer Imaging Volume 8 Issue 1
DOI: 10.1102/1470-7330.2008.0009

Date Posted

3 March 2008

Open Access is provided for this article.

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